Good first fish?

Alright guys I will soon be setting up my 55gal reef tank and letting it cycle. I'm trying to think ahead right now and decide what my first fish will be so that I can research them as much as possible. So for my first fish I was thinking about getting a pair of Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish.Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish

So are these OK fish to start out with?

 

a green chromis for the cycle, you can add more later and they will school

 

I would say ocellaris clowns. Maroons are a little too aggressive for my taste.

 

Good point maybe I could add them later down the road?

 

I suppose they would, but make sure they've already been paired up. Maroons can be tricky to pair up for a beginner.


Very glad to hear that you're going to do a fishless cycle :thumb_up:

 

I would add maroon's last IMHO. Like I said they are very territorial and aggressive. If your set on maroons, what about maybe a firefish or a wrasse for your first fish?

 

Ya since they are aggressive I'll probably wait to add them. I'll most likely get a pair of occelaries for my first fish. Also is a yellow tang too big for a 55gal?

 

If you get an ocellaris pair you will never be able to add maroons. They would kill the false percs very quickly.
Permenently, I would say a yellow is too big. Most will say no tangs in a 55. But I go against them myself If you can get a small one, and have no problems rotating them as they grow, IMHO there is no problem with it. But, it's hard (at least around most places) to find small yellow's. If that's what you want to do, I would go with a hippo tang. You can get them the size of your thumbnail, and would be able to go years without rotating them. But if you can find a really small yellow, that would be OK as well.

 

Also consider which way your tank is going to go, Reef etc... I have seen too many people add fish without researching them first IE my new trigger just ate my beloved goby. You get the point!!!

 

Hehe sorry about the Goby. Ya, the reason I'm trying to determine my first fish already is so I can do plenty of research on it.